U.S. patent application number 11/259223 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-29 for locating media by characteristics in storage apparatus.
Invention is credited to Curtis C. Ballard, Mike P. Fleischmann, Kelly J. Reasoner.
Application Number | 20080125905 11/259223 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39464696 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080125905 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ballard; Curtis C. ; et
al. |
May 29, 2008 |
Locating media by characteristics in storage apparatus
Abstract
Backup storage apparatus and related methods having a controller
for controlling and monitoring a robotics assembly that loads and
unloads storage media into and from storage devices and an operator
control panel coupled to the controller for controlling functions
of and displaying information regarding the apparatus. A user
interface that is displayable on the operator control panel is
operative to allow input of a storage media characteristic, locate
media using the input storage media characteristic, and retrieve
the location of the desired storage media corresponding to the
characteristic that was input.
Inventors: |
Ballard; Curtis C.; (Eaton,
CO) ; Fleischmann; Mike P.; (Fort Collins, CO)
; Reasoner; Kelly J.; (Fort Collins, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HEWLETT PACKARD COMPANY
P O BOX 272400, 3404 E. HARMONY ROAD, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ADMINISTRATION
FORT COLLINS
CO
80527-2400
US
|
Family ID: |
39464696 |
Appl. No.: |
11/259223 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
700/218 ;
G9B/17.054 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 17/225
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/218 |
International
Class: |
G06F 7/76 20060101
G06F007/76 |
Claims
1. Apparatus comprising: a controller for controlling and
monitoring a robotics assembly that loads and unloads storage media
into and from storage devices; an operator control panel coupled to
the controller for controlling functions of and displaying
information regarding the apparatus; and a user interface
displayable on the operator control panel that is operative to
input a storage media characteristic, identify the locations of
storage media based on the input storage media characteristic, and
display the identity of the corresponding storage media
locations.
2. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the characteristic is
selected from a group including barcode, media type, media from a
particular. drive, physical location, percentage used, media ID,
media serial number, last drive number, and last drive serial
number.
3. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the characteristic is
selected using the operator control panel.
4. Apparatus comprising: controller means for controlling and
monitoring a robotics assembly that loads and unloads storage media
into and from at least one storage device; an operator control
means coupled to the controller means for controlling functions of
and displaying information regarding the apparatus; user interface
means displayable on the operator control panel that is operative
to input a storage media characteristic, retrieve the identity of
locations of storage media having the storage media characteristic,
and display the identity of the retrieved storage media
locations.
5. The apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein the characteristic is
selected from a group including barcode, media type, media from a
particular drive, physical location, percentage used, media ID,
media serial number, last drive number, and last drive serial
number.
6. The apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein the characteristic is
selected using the operator control panel.
7. A storage media locating method comprising: providing a backup
storage apparatus comprising a controller for controlling and
monitoring a robotics assembly that loads and unloads storage media
into and from at least one storage device, and an operator control
panel coupled to the controller for controlling functions of and
displaying information regarding the apparatus; configuring the
operator control panel to have a user interface that is operative
to retrieve and display storage media locations corresponding to a
storage media characteristic that is input; inputting a desired
storage media characteristic; retrieving locations of storage media
having the storage media characteristic; and displaying the
retrieved storage media locations.
8. The method recited in claim 7 wherein the characteristic is
selected from a group including barcode, media type, media from a
particular drive, physical location, percentage used, media ID,
media serial number, last drive number, and last drive serial
number.
9. The method recited in claim 7 wherein the characteristic is
selected using the user interface.
10. The method recited in claim 7 further comprising returning
locations of storage media based on the storage media
characteristic without using a physical location of the storage
media.
11. The method recited in claim 7 further comprising: searching for
storage media based on the storage media characteristic; and
listing matches.
12. The method recited in claim 11 further comprising filtering the
matches.
13. The method recited in claim 7 further comprising maintaining a
table of information with records for each storage device.
14. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the characteristic is
used to locate the storage media without using a physical location
of the storage media.
15. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the characteristic is
a property of the storage media.
16. The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein the property of the
storage media is media type or percentage used.
17. The apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein the characteristic is
used to locate the storage media without using a physical location
of the storage media.
18. The apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein the characteristic is
a property of the storage media.
19. The apparatus recited in claim 4 wherein the property of the
storage media is media type or percentage used.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Businesses, governmental agencies, learning institutions,
and other organizations typically operate computers that are
interconnected by a network. Network users often store data on hard
drives of network servers. Users also store data on their host
computers.
[0002] Data stored on the network and/or host computers is
typically backed-up periodically to create a copy of the data to
prevent it from being lost due to mechanical failure or accidental
deletion, for example, and/or to produce an archive of the data.
Backup operations typically involve storing a copy of all or a
portion of the data files on the network and/or host computers to a
backup device such as a magnetic tape library having a plurality of
magnetic tape drives.
[0003] Digital magnetic tape has long been used for data storage in
computer systems. The low cost-per-bit stored, long-term retention
capability, and portability of magnetic tape cartridges have made
them invaluable for storing large quantities of data generated by
businesses.
[0004] Tape cartridges are used by automated tape library devices.
Tape libraries generally handle many tape cartridges to store very
large amounts of data. The tape libraries hold the tape cartridges
in predefined positions or media slots. When data is required from
a particular tape cartridge, a host system communicates via a Small
Computer System Interface (SCSI) bus or a Fibre Channel (FC)
fabric, for example, with a controller of the tape library. The
controller retrieves the particular tape cartridge from its media
slot and places the tape cartridge in a tape drive. The host system
may then read from or write to the tape cartridge via the tape
drive. Also, the host system may query the controller to determine
the number of tape cartridges, tape drives, and robotics mechanisms
contained in the tape library to manage the tape library.
[0005] There are a number of manufacturers of tape libraries that
back up and store large quantities of data to digital magnetic tape
cartridges. For example, a StorageWorks brand of tape libraries are
manufactured in various sizes and configurations. The number of
tape cartridges that can be loaded into such tape libraries varies
depending upon model, but may be on the order of 400-500 tapes, for
example.
[0006] A typical tape library usually has a control and display
panel (or operator control panel) where local functions are
controlled and where the health of the tape library may be
displayed. The display typically presents information about
components in the tape library that are built by the original
library manufacturer. Value added components may also be installed
in the tape library including software tools to aid in the
configuration, installation, and management of the tape
library.
[0007] There are many different ways to identify media, such as
tape cartridges, disposed in a tape library, and the ways used by a
particular tape library and by independent software vendor (ISV)
software are different, making it difficult at times to locate the
tape that matches the ISV software's request. It would be desirable
to have backup storage apparatus and methods that make it easy to
use the same identifier that the ISV uses when selecting media from
a control panel (or other user interface) of the tape library.
[0008] Conventional tape libraries select media from a front
control panel using slot or element identifiers. Some conventional
tape libraries may display a barcode and/or the media type after
selecting the media, but none allow selection of the media using
the barcode or type. It would be desirable to have backup storage
apparatus and methods that remedy this problem.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The various features and advantages of embodiments of the
present invention may be more readily understood with reference to
the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate
like structural elements, and in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates an exemplary tape
library;
[0011] FIGS. 2a-2d illustrate exemplary display screens for
locating media in the backup storage device using certain media
characteristics; and
[0012] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram that illustrates an exemplary
method or algorithm for use with backup storage devices.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Backup storage apparatus 10 is disclosed and is discussed
below in the context of a magnetic tape library 10. However, it is
to be understood that the backup storage apparatus 10 is not
limited only to magnetic tape libraries, but may be employed in the
context of other backup storage devices and systems, including
optical drives and hard disk drives, for example.
[0014] Referring to the drawing figures, FIG. 1 shows exemplary
backup storage apparatus 10 comprising an exemplary tape library
10. The exemplary tape library 10 comprises a housing 11 in which a
plurality of tape drives 12 (storage devices 12) are housed. A
plurality of tape cartridges 13 (storage media 13) are loaded and
stored in the housing 11 and which are manipulated by a robotics
assembly 14 to load and unload them into a selected tape drive 12
to store data thereon or retrieve data therefrom. In other types of
backup storage apparatus 10, the storage device 12 might comprise
an optical disk reader used with optical disk media, or removable
hard disk drives, for example.
[0015] An external management station 15 communicates with the tape
library 10 by way of an external local area network (LAN) 16. The
management station 15 is coupled by way of the external LAN 16 to a
component 22 of the tape library 10 such as an interface manager 22
or management appliance 22. The interface manager 22 or management
appliance 22 includes software tools 25 that aid in the
configuration, installation, and management of the tape library 10,
and specifically allow configuration and control of value added
components 24 of the tape library 10. The interface manager 22 is
coupled to an internal bus 18 comprising a communication link
18.
[0016] One or more interface controllers 21 may be coupled between
selected tape drives 12 and the internal bus 18. The interface
controllers 21 provide a communication path for the interface
manager 22 to talk to the tape drives 12. The interface controllers
21 also provide a controlled data path between the tape drives 12
and a backup server 27. The backup server 27 communicates with the
interface controllers 21 via a Fibre Channel fabric 26, shown in
FIG. 1 as a storage area network (SAN) fabric 26, for example. A
parallel data bus such as a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)
bus may be used in place of the Fibre Channel fabric 26, but this
is not commonly used in current-generation computers.
[0017] The interface manager 22 or management appliance 22 and the
interface controllers 21 comprise the value added components 24 of
the tape library 10, i.e., components that may not be manufactured
and installed by the original library manufacturer.
[0018] A library controller 17 is coupled by way of the internal
bus 18 (communication link 18) to the one or more interface
controllers 21 and to the interface manager 22 or management
appliance 22. The library controller 17 is also coupled by the way
of a private internal bus such as a PCI bus 19 to the robotics
assembly 14.
[0019] The tape library 10 comprises an operator control panel and
display system 30, referred to as an operator control panel 30,
which is preferably disposed on a front panel of the tape library
10, for ease of use. The operator control panel 30 controls local
functions and displays information regarding the tape library 10.
The operator control panel 30 presents information about components
in the tape library 10.
[0020] The operator control panel 30 comprises a graphical user
interface (GUI) that displays library status information and allows
a user to access the library menus. These menus allow a user to
view or change the library settings, run demonstration programs,
and run diagnostic tests, for example. Certain of these menus are
illustrated in and are discussed with reference to FIGS. 2a-2d that
relate to locating media contained in backup storage apparatus 10
using various characteristics associated with the media 13.
[0021] FIGS. 2a-2d show exemplary screen displays 34 that may be
displayed on a backup storage device 10, such as a tape library 10,
for example. Certain of the exemplary screen displays 34
specifically relate to a media locating function (FIGS. 2b-2d).
FIG. 2d illustrates an exemplary user interface that allows a user
to locate media contained in backup storage apparatus using various
characteristics associated with the media. While media
characteristics may readily be used to locate media, it is to be
understood that corresponding characteristics or information
associated with other components, such as drives or storage
devices, or interface controllers, for example, may be employed to
locate them as well. The exemplary screen displays 34 and inventory
mode function may be presented on a display screen 35 of the
operator control panel 30.
[0022] The exemplary media locating function is implemented by way
of a Support menu 50 that is one menu of a menu structure or tree.
The operator control panel 30 has a menu structure that has many
paths, such as is illustrated by multiple menus shown in FIGS.
2b-2d, of which the Support menu 50 is but one.
[0023] FIG. 2a shows an exemplary screen display 34 comprising an
initial splash screen 41 showing a logo. Touching the screen
display 34 takes the user of a subsequent screen display 34, shown
in FIG. 2b.
[0024] The screen display 34 shown in FIG. 2b may be used to
present Status, Configuration, Operation and Support information to
the user. The user may display the information contained in the
Status, Configuration, Operation and Support menus by clicking on
the appropriate button at the top of the screen, or by clicking on
the right pointing arrow to select one of the screens that is not
yet displayed (Operation and Support screens, in this case).
[0025] FIG. 2b illustrates an exemplary Status menu 43, which is
displayed by clicking on the Status button at the top of the
display screen 35, or by migrating to this screen using the right
pointing arrow shown in FIG. 2b. The Status menu 43 shown in FIG.
2b allows the user to see an identity screen 44, see a health
summary screen 45, determine component status 46, perform event log
type selection 47, and perform a library inventory 48, for
example.
[0026] FIG. 2c illustrates an exemplary Support menu 50, which is
displayed by clicking on the Support button at the top of the
screen shown in FIG. 2b, or by migrating to this screen using the
right pointing arrow. The Support menu 50 shown in FIG. 2c allows
the user to access support information 51, access a service menu
52, obtain contact information 53, display library time 54, and
locate media 55, for example. Clicking on the locate media icon 55,
or banner 55, presents the display 34 shown in FIG. 2d.
[0027] FIG. 2d illustrates a display screen 34 comprising a media
location screen 34, and particularly illustrates an exemplary user
interface 40 that allows a user to locate media 13 contained in
backup storage apparatus 10 using various characteristics
associated with the media 13. The user interface 40 allows a user
to locate media 13 using a variety of characteristics such as
barcode 38a, media ID 38b, media type 38c, media from drive X 38d,
and the like, instead of locating the media 13 only using its
physical location. It is to be understood that various media
characteristics may be used, such as serial number, manufacturer,
date manufactured, for example, and that the list shown in FIG. 2d
is not to be considered exhaustive.
[0028] Selecting a particular icon 38a-38d corresponding to the
various media characteristics allows a user to enter a particular
media characteristic. The user interface 40 implements an algorithm
that returns the media location based upon the selected media
characteristic. The media location information that is returned and
displayed identifies the physical location of the media
corresponding to the characteristic. By way of example, to locate
media by its characteristic, each characteristic screen might have
additional "asistance" tools. To locate by barcode, a screen with a
blank for a user entry and "locate barcode that [ ] contains, [ ]
starts with, [ ]ends with", each of which would use that value and
possibly a search alphabetically which would bring up "starts with
0-9 or A-Z?" then bring up a list of barcodes that match that, and
"next character is 0-9 or A-Z" etc. to filter that list. To locate
by location might bring up a different type search, for example,
such as "Cabinet [ ], module [ ], slot [ ], SCSI element [ ]" with
possible searching similar to that discussed above. To locate by
media type might display a list of all media types installed "SDLT
or LTO" or "SDLT or 600" and "LTO 1, 2, or 3" or "SDLT 320, SDLT
600 [ ], LTO 1 [ ], LTO 2 [ ], LTO3 [ ], Cleaning." Finally, to
locate media from drive X might display a list of the last 10 tapes
used in that drive, for example.
[0029] Each tape library 10 maintains a table of information with
records for each storage device 12 in the library 10. The record
for each storage device 12 contains information on what is in that
element. A structure similar to this is required to be built or
maintained to support SCSI "Read Element Status" so all tape
libraries have most of the infrastructure available.
[0030] The tape library 10 sometimes includes barcode information
in a data record for storage devices 12 that contain tape
cartridges 13. The library 10 may also include information about
what type of tape cartridge 13 is in the storage devices 12 in the
library 10. It is not believed that any conventional libraries
track other media information such as media identifier, percentage
full, last drive. In the present tape library 10 (or backup storage
apparatus 10), those characteristics are added to the data record
for each element. All functions of the operator control panel 30
that access tape cartridges 13 add a new option that lists
different ways of addressing the tape cartridges 13. That list
includes barcode and tape type at a minimum, but also preferably
includes percent used (% used), media ID or serial number, last
drive number, last drive serial number along with other possible
fields.
[0031] The user interface 40 thus allows a user to locate and use a
tape cartridge 13 using any of the tape characteristics that can be
used to locate a particular tape cartridge 13 instead of requiring
the user to use a software tool to figure out where a specific tape
cartridge 13 is before it is accessed.
[0032] The user interface 40 allows media 13, such as tape
cartridges 13, disposed in a tape library 10, to be easily
identified and located and which is compatible with independent
software vendor (ISV) software that runs on a host server connected
via the Fibre Channel fabric 26 (Fiber Channel SCSI), parallel
SCSI, or other high speed data interface to the storage apparatus
10, for example. This makes it easy to locate a tape cartridge 13,
for example, that matches an ISV software's request, and allows the
use of the same identifier that the ISV software uses when
selecting media from a control panel (or other user interface) of
the tape library 10. For example, a web-based graphical user
interface (GUI), for example, may be employed instead or in
addition to the operator control panel interface. The user
interface 40 allows selection of media 13 (tape cartridge 13) using
its barcode or type.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram that illustrates an exemplary
method 60 or algorithm 60 for use in the backup storage apparatus
10. The exemplary method 60 or algorithm 60 may be used with
storage apparatus 10 such as magnetic tape libraries, optical
drives and hard disk drives, for example, although it is described
with reference to use with a tape library 10. The exemplary method
60 or algorithm 60 comprises the following actions.
[0034] A tape library 10 (backup storage apparatus 10) is
implemented 61 or provided 61 that comprises a controller 17 that
controls and monitors a robotics assembly 14 that loads and unloads
tape cartridges 13 into and from tape drives 12, and an operator
control panel 30 coupled to the controller 17 for controlling
functions of and displaying information regarding the tape library
10.
[0035] The operator control panel 30 is configured 62 to have a
user interface 40 that is displayed on its display 32 that is
operative to locate media 13 using predetermined storage media
characteristics including barcode, media type, media from drive X,
physical location, percentage used, media ID or serial number, last
drive number, and last drive serial number.
[0036] A user interacts with the user interface 40 to input 63 or
select 63 a media locating characteristic that is to be used to
locate tape cartridges 13 in the tape library 10. The user inputs
64 or selects 64 the characteristic, such as via the operator
control panel 30. The user interface 40 retrieves 65 the location
of the desired tape cartridge 13, or cartridge, 13, corresponding
to the characteristic that was input or selected. The user
interface 40 displays the retrieved storage media location or
locations.
[0037] Thus, an improved tape library and information sharing
method or algorithm have been disclosed that locate media based
upon characteristics. It is to be understood that the
above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of some of the
many specific embodiments that represent applications of the
principles described herein. Clearly, numerous and other
arrangements can be readily devised by those skilled in the art
without departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *